The Judges’ Visit – Useful Information

• Prepare materials and community profile book that address all criteria in the evaluation form.

• Make good use of the time that the judges are in your community.

• The judges’ itinerary should include all of the criteria and be discussed with the judges upon arrival.

• Provide the judges with the opportunity to interact with key individuals and enjoy their time spent in your community.

• Give them time to start working on their evaluation form.

• Let them see that you are proud of your achievements.


Communities are rated from 1 to 5 blooms

Up to 55 points: 1 bloom
55-63 points: 2 blooms
64-72 points: 3 blooms
73-81 points: 4 blooms
82 points and more: 5 blooms

This summer, 29 qualified CiB volunteer judges will visit communities accross Canada and internationally to evaluate each one on its overall performance in the following areas: tidiness, environmental action, heritage conservation, urban forestry, landscape, turf & groundcovers, floral displays, and community involvement.

50 001 – 150 000
Mario Fournier, Manager, Life Cycle and Rehabilitation Programs, Urban Lands and Transportation, National Capital Commission, Ottawa-Gatineau
Stephen King, Retired Parks & Environment General Manager, Halifax, Nova Scotia

20 001 – 50 000
Jim Baird, Retired Commisioner - Planning and Development, Saint John, New Brunswick
Dave Hilton, Retired Parks Manager, Kamloops, British Columbia

10 001 – 20 000
Evelyn Alemanni, Writer, Escondido, California, USA
Jack Boutilier, Retired Parks Manager, Courtenay, British Columbia

7 501 – 10 000
Margaret Bateman Ellison, Retired Tourism & Hospitality Professor, Halifax, Nova Scotia 
Gerry Teahen, Retired Human Resources Manager, Environmental Manager and Former Mayor, St. Marys, Ontario

3 001 – 7 500
Joanne Dunphy, Environmental Service Worker, Souris, Prince Edward Island
Lorna McIlroy, Retired Teacher & Horticulturalist, Grande Prairie, Alberta

1 001 – 3 000
Berta Briggs, Greenhouse Owner & Manager, Wetaskiwin, Alberta
Rachelle George Bernard, Science Teacher, Montréal, Québec

1 – 1 000
Gordon Day, Greenhouse & Garden Centre Operator, Lewisporte, Newfoundland – Labrador
Donna McIlmoyle, Manager of a Heritage Site, Petrolia, Ontario

Canadian Forces Communities in Bloom
Bob Lewis, Retired Director of Urban Lands and Transportation, National Capital Commission , Ottawa-Gatineau, Ontario 
Suzanne St-Amand, Procurement Officer, Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces, Ottawa, Ontario
Ted Zarudny, Nursary Owner, Orangeville, Ontario

International Challenge – Large
Maurice Baren, Former Britain in Bloom Judge & Former Chairman of Yorkshire in Bloom, West Yorkshire, England
Ted Blowes, Former Mayor of Stratford & Environmentalist, Stratford, Ontario
Gérald Lajeunesse, Retired Chief of Landscape Architect, National Capital Commission, Ottawa-Gatineau, Ontario 

International Challenge – Small
Arelene Janzen, Chartered Accountant & Community Volunteer, White City, Saskatchewan
Katy Moss Warner, President Emeritus, American Horticultural Society, Garrison, New York

Circle of Excellence - Special Attractions
Don Budinsky, Special Projects Coordinator, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Sandy Cairns, Town Councillor, Gravenhurst, Ontario
Wendy Maurer, Project Manager, VIEA Link Project, Qualicum Beach, British Columbia
Odette Sabourin-Dumais, Retired Horticulturist, Montréal, Québec
Hugh Skinner, Technical Writer, Roblin, Manitoba
Lisa Tompkins, Director, Marketing and Communications, CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario
Liisa Woflgram, Past President, Ontario Horticultural Association, Mississauga, Ontario
and J. Baird, M. Baren, G. Day, M. Fournier, D. Hilton, S. King, G. Lajeunesse, D. McIlmoyle.